Down a Man, Impact Earns Point
May 6, 2010 - North American Soccer League (NASL)
Montreal Impact News Release
BURNABY - The Montreal Impact settled with a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps in Montreal's second Nutrilite Canadian Championship match, Wednesday, at Swangard Stadium, in Burnaby.
For a second consecutive game in the tournament, the Montreal team had to play short of one player, yet tallied its first point of the competition.
Forward Peter Byers opened the score at the 32nd minute, but the Whitecaps and forward Marcus Haber, equalized at the 80th minute.
"Since the start of the tournament, we are the strongest team when we play 11 versus 11," declared Impact head coach March Dos Santos. "We dominated the first 80 minutes of play, but we were unable to score a second goal. It hurts when you tie a match this way because we came here to win. We already won this tournament with seven points, so we must continue believing."
Held back by defender Greg Janicki, Byers scored his first goal of the championship after accepting a long pass from Tony Donatelli behind the Whitecaps defense. He then fired a low shot to the far post inside the 18-yard box, beating goalkeeper Jay Nolly to his left. The play was originally started by defender Stephen deRoux and midfielder David Testo.
But with less than 15 minutes to play, Marcus Haber scored the game-tying goal on a penalty with a low shot to the right of the goal, that the Impact goalkeeper attempted to save by diving to the opposite side. On the previous sequence, defender Adam Braz had been ejected after pushing a Whitecaps player from inside the 18-yard box, during a free kick situation.
Goalkeeper Matt Jordan, who could not do anything on the sequence, notably stood out with a number of aerial clearings.
Midfielder Leonardo Di Lorenzo was named the Impact Player of the Match.
Forward Reda Agourram was also expelled from the match during second half stoppage time after elbowing a Whitecaps player.
Braz and Agourram will each serve an automatic one-game suspension during the next Canadian Championship match, on Wednesday May 12, versus Toronto, at Saputo Stadium (8 pm, Sportsnet).
Forwards Eduardo Sebrango (thigh) and Roberto Brown (suspended), as well as defender Stefano Pesoli (ankle) did not travel with their teammates on the west coast.
The Impact will play its next regular season match this Saturday versus the Minnesota Stars, at Saputo Stadium (2:30 pm, Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
13th minute - From inside the 18-yard box, defender Greg Janicki deflected with a header Jonathan Steele's 30 meter fee kick, just to the left of the Impact goal.
25th minute - Positioned near the penalty spot, Rocco Placentino deflected with a header a cross from Filipe Soares, but goalkeeper Jay Nolly deflected the ball with his right hand above the net.
40th minute - Soares deflected a pass from Tony Donatelli just to the right of the Whitecaps goal.
95th minute - Whitecaps forward Marlon James fired a low shot on the line of the 18-yard box just to the right of the Impact goal.
THE NUTRILITE CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
- The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps match up in a six-game tournament to advance into the CONCACAF Champions League.
- The Voyageurs Cup is awarded to the top Canadian professional club since 2002. The Impact won this trophy for seven consecutive years, from 2002 to 2008.
- The winner of the tournament will have to play a home and away series in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League, before advancing to the group phase.
THE NEXT 3 MATCHES
- Saturday, May 8 - Minnesota @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 2:30 pm (Radio-Canada, CKAC Sports, THE TEAM 990, radio-canada.ca/sports)
- Wednesday, May 12 - Toronto @ IMPACT - Saputo Stadium - 8 pm (Sportsnet)*
- Saturday, May 15 - IMPACT @ Vancouver - Swangard Stadium - 10:30 pm (Radio-Canada, whitecapsfc.com)
* Nutrilite Canadian Championship match
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North American Soccer League Stories from May 6, 2010
- Rested Stars Ready For Montreal Trip - Minnesota United FC
- Palace Go West In Quest For First Points - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Late Goal Earns Tie for Whitecaps - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Down a Man, Impact Earns Point - Montreal Impact
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